The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has recommended that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare consider measures, as there are few facilities to support women with "postpartum depression" who continue to feel depressed after giving birth.
"Postpartum depression" is said to occur in 1 in 10 females who give birth, and it is becoming more serious as it tends to be isolated due to the effects of the new coronavirus.
Since 2015, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has been promoting projects such as subsidizing each municipality and installing facilities in medical institutions and maternity homes where women with "postpartum depression" can go for consultation or stay for a short period of time. Then, the Administrative Evaluation Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications investigated whether there were any problems.
As a result of extracting and investigating 54 cities, towns and villages in 12 prefectures, it was found that there are not enough medical institutions in some areas.
In local governments with few facilities, there were cases where women with disabilities had to drive long distances to go to facilities far away.
Therefore, on the 21st, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications recommended that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare consider measures according to the actual conditions of the region.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare says, "I would like to understand the actual situation at the site and consider proceeding with the project."